In 2007, Miranda had just finished her freshman year at Eastern Washington University (EWU) and was living with her older sister. At 18, she had not yet decided on a major and was still uncertain about what she wanted to do.

Her sister heard about a great opportunity through the Next Generation Zone and thought it fit Miranda perfectly. She soon visited with a career coach at the Next Generation Zone and was referred to an internship as a public affairs assistant with the local Red Cross chapter.

She spent the summer writing public service announcements, copy editing and writing articles. She returned to school with a clear idea and declared her major in public relations.

Two years later, Miranda was yet again looking for a summer job that would enhance her skills and boost her résumé. "I went back to the Next Generation Zone because I trusted them as a resource," she said. "And they set me up with the coolest position at North by Northwest."

Miranda spent the summer of 2009 as a video intern at the production company and even assisted in producing a video about the services offered at the Next Generation Zone. She graduated from EWU in 2010 and after spending one year as an AmeriCorps member, she is now the receptionist at Oil Analysis Lab, Inc. in Spokane.

The combination of work-based learning experiences and career services at the Next Generation Zone prepared Miranda for a successful entrance into the workforce. At a time when many of her peers have yet to land their first job out of college, she considers herself lucky. "I've learned so much," she said. "It's been a really beneficial opportunity for me."